Ancient Greek architecture is not only well known for its
temples, but also for the open-air theatres (amphitheatres)
and the open public market square or agora. Around the agora
were often buildings fronted with an open wall of columns - a
colonnade or stoa, for example the 'Painted
Stoa' of Ancient Athens.

The architectural styles found in these buildings, are based on the
formalised method of construction and decoration that they liked
to use. Their characteristic features can can be seen on their
buildings that have survived to present day.

The Greeks developed three architectural styles, called
orders, each with their own distinctive proportions and detailing. The
Greek orders are: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.

SOURCE A : The Propylaea - gateway entrance to the
Acropolis

The Acropolis hill in Athens - The Parthenon is on the top
right.

The Doric style is rather sturdy and its
top (the capital), is plain. This style was used in mainland
Greece and the colonies in southern Italy and Sicily.

The Ionic style is thinner
and more elegant. Its capital is decorated with a scroll-like
design (a volute). This style was found in eastern Greece and
the islands.

The Corinthian style is seldom used in
the Greek world, but often seen on Roman temples. Its capital is
very elaborate and decorated with acanthus leaves.

Doric Order:For example, the Parthenon - temple of Athena Parthenos
("Virgin"), Greek goddess of wisdom, on the Acropolis in Athens. The
Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC, and despite the enormous
damage it has sustained over the centuries, it still communicates the
ideals of order and harmony for which Greek architecture is known.

Ionic Order:For example, Erechtheum - temple from the middle classical
period of Greek art and architecture, built on the Acropolis of Athens
between 421 and 405BC.
The Erechtheum contained sanctuaries to Athena Polias, Poseidon, and
Erechtheus.

The requirements of the several shrines and the location upon a sloping
site produced an unusual plan. From the body of the building porticoes
project on east, north, and south sides. ...
The southern portico, known as the Porch of the Caryatids...(Source B)
- six
sculptured draped female figures that support its entablature. It is the
temple's most striking feature... one of the caryatids was removed to
London by Lord Elgin, a replica being installed in it's place.
From:
http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Art/

b) What is the most well known and striking feature of this
Ancient temple?

2. What was the Agora used for in
Ancient Athens?

3. Describe the main architectural feature of buildings from
ancient Greek times that are described as a stoa.

4. Sketch in your book each of the
three architectural building styles, called
orders. See the chart near the top of this page.
Just sketch the top part of the column, the capital

With each, add one or two points of information about that
particular order.

SOURCE D

5.
Complete this cut-and-paste activity (pdf)
Reconstruct the section of the building down the left-hand side of an A4
piece of paper. Neatly label the diagram with the correct Classical
Greek architectural style or order. Also label your diagram with the
different architectural terms, for the different stone building pieces
or features as seen above. Also indicate on your diagram using a
parenthesis, the part of the building referred to as the 'entablature'.

SOURCE E This cut-away diagram of the Parthenon,
shows how the Panathenaic Frieze (coloured blue) ran around the
architrave on the inner row of columns. The frieze was a series
of, bas relief stone picture carvings, showing the different
people participating in the Panathenaic Festival Procession.

SOURCE F

The outer metopes and triglyphs as they would have appeared in their day.

SOURCE H The restored Panathenaic Frieze on the Parthenon. The original
is in the British Museum. It was taken to Britain by Lord Elgin
in the 1800s.

The PEDIMENT 'round' sculptures.

SOURCE E A surviving part of the Pediment 'round' sculptures
(now in the British Museum)

6. What was the Panathenaic Frieze? (Who
designed it and where was it located? What event did it portray
what were some of the scenes it contained?)

Click to enlarge. "...watch your step...!"

7. Study the above
illustration.
a) Where did the ancient Greeks use long wooden beams, in the
construction of their buildings?
b) Why do you think they used wood in this part of the building
construction and not stone?

8. Besides the three different orders or styles the
ancient Greeks used in their buildings, list the other architectural
features found in their building.
(You could include such things as : the material they used - bricks,
wood, stone?: the basic geometric shapes used: the size: the use of
columns with an external colonnade: use of colour: the roof cladding or
covering: use of statues and bas reliefs (frieze or metopes)

SOURCE F

SOURCE G

SOURCE H

9. Identify the architectural order of the above three
Greek architectural styles.

10. Find, copy and paste in your book, a photograph of a modern
building standing today, that has been built using one of the
Ancient Greek architectural orders or features.